Leeds University Source:&nbsp Shutterstock The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has approved three ‘new-style’ master’s qualifications at the University of Leeds, which are not based on Parts 1-3 The courses are the first to be green lit since the ARB proposed reforming architectural education by moving away from Parts 1 to 3 and scrapping the requirement for a minimum two years of professional practical experience.  The University of Leeds will offer a two-year MArch course, whereby students must meet the ARB’s competency outcomes, as well as two five-year integrated architecture and engineering courses. One of the courses includes a paid year-long industrial placement.  Students of the five-year integrated masters will receive an MArch and an MEng, meaning they will be able to become registered professional architects, civil and structural engineers or building services engineers.Advertisement However, while graduates of the course will have met the ARB's Academic Outcomes, they will still need to meet its Practice Outcomes before being able to register as an architect. All three University of Leeds courses have been approved by the regulator’s accreditation committee, but will only be formally confirmed following a statutory advisory consultation with relevant professional bodies. The courses will open for direct entry and internal transfer from September 2025.  ARB chair Alan Kershaw said: ‘We’re thrilled to see the first new-style degrees reach this stage of the accreditation process, including two integrated qualifications that will take students from their undergraduate degree through to a master’s that meets our academic outcomes.  ‘This represents real progress in our work to modernise architectural education and training, and shows how innovative learning providers can make the most of the flexibility opened up by ARB’s education reforms.’ Advertisement University of Leeds architecture lead Justin Lunn said: ‘[Our] new integrated programmes … are the realisation of a long-held vision to create a unified approach to education with a goal to produce graduates who have expertise across disciplines, allowing them to be more effective and collaborative professionals from the beginning of their career.  ‘We’d been at an advanced stage of planning for Part 2 as an addition to our Part 1 course when ARB’s education reforms were announced, and we realised that they were an opportunity to implement an improved offer.’ RIBA board chair Jack Pringle commented: ‘We are clear that creating new, more flexible and affordable routes to becoming an architect is a must, to ensure the profession is inclusive and representative of more sections of society. ‘Widening access to architecture also helps maintain the skills and talent pipeline to meet future housing and infrastructure needs, so we very much welcome new integrated courses. ‘We are particularly keen to see the development of a five-year admission to registration route emerging as a viable educational model, and will work with schools and the ARB to support this development. ‘We also look forward to working with schools of architecture to ensure that all new routes to the register work for students, universities and employers alike.’ 2025-04-17 Will Ing comment and share